History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 82

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Jeremiah Hilton was the pioneer of the numerous families bearing his name. Ien was here in 1769, and located first on the Moultonborough road, and later on the Red Hill road near where some of his descendants now reside. As the records say, his son Hunkin was the first child born to the settlers in town. One of the earliest orchards was produced from seeds brought and planted by his wife.

John Purington, the early hatter, married Phoebe, daughter of Judge Beede. Their daughter, Patience, married General Montgomery.

Probably no settler has had a larger progeny than the early Wallace who made Sandwich his home in the days of "spotted " roads and bridgeless streams. At a reunion held at North Sandwich in 1884, ninety-one descend- ants attended, and it was said that the whole number living was over one hundred and fifty.

Judge Nathan Crosby was one of the numerous children of Dr Asa Crosby, and was born in Sandwich in 1798. Although moving to Lowell, Mass., when young, and for over forty years judge of the municipal court of that city, he ever retained great interest in his native town, and gathered much material for a history of it. He was a prominent temperance worker, and died at an advanced age.

Hon. Isaac Adams, the celebrated inventor, although a native of Rochester, where he was born August 16, 1802, commenced active life in Sandwich as apprentice with his brother Seth to Benjamin Jewett, the cabinet-maker, at the Lower Corner. He then went to Boston as a pattern-maker, invented the printing-press that bears his name, and acquired great wealth. He returned to Sandwich previous to 1880, and expended much money in fitting up his resi- dence on Wentworth Hill. He was eccentric in many ways. He paid large prices for numerous farms in Sandwich and Moultonborough, which he kept unoccupied after his purchase of them, and for some years was active in town affairs. The stone wall along his farm will ever be a monument to his memory.

Benjamin Jewett, first a cabinet-maker, was afterwards for many years a merchant. He died about 1853. His wife survived him thirty years, dying, in 1883, at South Berwick, Maine, in her ninety-sixth year. Both Mr and Mrs Jewett were active in their residence in town, doing much to build up and improve society.

Hon. Ezra Gould was born in Sandwich, August 26, 1808. On attaining his majority he was clerk in a mercantile house in Portland for a few years, when he returned to Sandwich, and in company with Moses J. Hoag engaged in fur hat manufacturing in a building near the drug-store in Centre Sandwich. He was then in trade for several years. For nearly twenty years he was in the shoe manufacturing in Sandwich and Dover. He was very prominent in busi- ness and social affairs, but until his fiftieth year had very little to do with politics. He served as selectman for some years ; was a member of the legisla-

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ture in 1863 and 1864; of the senate in 1869, and of the executive council in 1870 ; he was a delegate to the Republican national convention that nomi- nated General Grant for President. In 1846 he opened the Eagle Hotel (now Sandwich House) at Centre Sandwich, which had a high reputation. For a few years he was proprietor of the Maple House, where he died. He was a Quaker in belief, a man of quick perceptions, tireless energy, and great executive ability.

CHAPTER LX.

Church History - Elder Jacob Jewell - Calvinistic Baptists - Freewill Baptist Church - Sketches of Some of its Pastors - North Sandwich Freewill Baptist Church - Methodism - Congregational Churches - The Friends - Education - Sandwich Library Association.

HURCH HISTORY .- In the days of " Auld Lang Syne," when Sandwich was but a small settlement "among the hills," her inhabitants were imbued with the spirit and principles that characterized New England at that period. Many of them emigrated from the lower part of the state, and affiliated with the Congregationalists, Baptists, and Quakers. Among them was Elder Jacob Jewell from Weare, born March 18, 1737. He, with his wife, Martha Quimby Jewell, were received into the First Baptist Church of Weare at its organization, April 19, 1768. Elder Jewell was the first minister of Sandwich, coming here prior to 1776, and preached the stern doctrines of Calvin. He was a good and faithful preacher and adhered steadfastly .to the religion of his ancestors. His daughters connected them- selves by marriage with some of the best families in town, and his sons were worthy descendants of the pioneer preacher. Elder Jewell left town about 1806 and returned in 1812, and died in a few years. He received one of the four lots in the right of the first settled minister and relinquished the remain- ing lots to the town.

The Calvinistic Baptists built the first church in town. This was located nearly opposite the present (1889) residence of Asahel Glines, and Elder Jewell is said to have been settled as its pastor in 1780. The building must have been a very primitive, rude structure, as in 1802 it had served its day and a new meeting-house had been erected during the last decade of the eighteenth century and occupied the site of the present Freewill Baptist church at the Centre. This meeting-house was built by the people, the pewholders being the proprietors, and was occupied by the Baptists and Methodists alternately.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

This church edifice remained until about forty years ago, and was used for the public. "Here were held for many years the annual town-meetings ; here the anniversary meetings of the Freewill Baptists were held, and here was often heard the apostolic eloquence of John Colby, the clear logic of the marvelous boy preacher, Jonathan Woodman, as well as the scholarly sermons of more modern preachers." According to Backus, the Baptist historian, this church, although existing earlier, was not formally organized until 1793. Its pastor, Rev. Jacob Jewell, preached the "doctrine of election " on each Sabbath, and Rev. Joseph Quimby, a Baptist, who began preaching here in 1790, preached "free grace " on each Sabbath, one in the afternoon, the other in the morning. Mr Jewell frequently summoned Quimby before the church for heresy, but the church invariably acquitted and sustained him, showing that even then the members were most of them in accord with the Freewill Baptist faith. Rev. Joseph Quimby was ordained in 1798, and August 15, 1799, the church withdrew from the Baptist Association and Elder Jewell went to another field of labor. April 22, 1801, a vote was passed to ask the New Durham Quarterly Meeting of the Freewill Baptist denomination "to send instructors to them to expound the faith; " Rev. Benjamin Randall and Richard Morton were sent.

Freewill Baptist Church. - 1803. September 21, application for fellowship and union was made to the New Durham Quarterly Meeting, and the church was accepted the same day, thus becoming the Freewill Baptist Church of Sandwich, Joseph Quimby, pastor, in which relation he continued nearly till his death, November 15, 1825. Elder Quimby was son of Major Aaron Quimby, and grandfather of Joseph H. Quimby, of North Sandwich. He was a most eloquent and persuasive preacher, and had great influence over his townsmen, and doubtless it was through his means so many became Free- will Baptists. Under his fostering care and that of Randall, and through the labors of John Colby, a native of Sandwich and the greatest evangelist of the denomination, the church became strong in numbers, reporting, in 1809, 426 members.

[John Colby, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Atwood Colby, was born December 9, 1787. He died November 28, 1817, at the age of thirty years, having pressed into his short life the work of a century. His labors extended to nearly every part of the United States and the Provinces. He baptized and received into the church many hundreds. Profoundly earnest in his nature, awfully impressed with the vast possibilities and high destiny toward which humanity tends, ordained by the Almighty rather than the priesthood to preach the gospel in its stern simplicity, he was one of the most effectual preachers in the country.]

Dudley Pettingill must have preached here most of the time from 1824 to 1831, although Thomas Jackson was pastor in 1827, and Nathaniel Rollins

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

was here in 1828. John Pinkham came in 1831 and remained until 1837. He was succeeded by Horace Webber in 1837. In 1838 occurred the " Great Reformation :" over three hundred embraced religion ; ninety-eight joined this church.

In 1827 a branch was formed in Tamworth and prosperity. continued. October 10, 1839, the church was divided. The First Church (North Sand- wich) in 1840 had a membership of 291, while in 1840 the Second Church (Centre Sandwich) had 159. The division line of these churches commenced in the west part of the town, followed Bear Camp river to the Martin road, then went south to the main road from Tamworth to Sandwich Lower Corner.

Pastors settled over the Centre Sandwich church, with dates of settlement. - Rev. Horace Webber, October 10, 1839; Rev. Nahum Brooks, November, 1843 ; Rev. L. B. Tasker, June 25, 1848; Rev. Levi Brackett, September 25, 1854; Rev. L. B. Tasker, May, 1856; Rev. E. B. Fernald, June 23, 1859; Rev. L. B. Tasker, May, 1863; Rev. G. W. Bean, April, 1865; Rev. C. H. Kimball, June, 1870; Rev. L. B. Tasker, May, 1872; Rev. D. Calley, May, 1874; Rev. C. W. Griffin, June, 1880; Rev. J. W. Scribner, May, 1882; Rev. G. O. Wiggin, May, 1886.

In 1839 Enoch True and Samuel Ambrose were chosen deacons, Jesse Ambrose and George W. Downing, ruling elders, Caleb M. Marston, clerk. January, 1840, Ezekiel Hoit, Samuel Ambrose, John Burleigh, were appointed to serve on what became a standing committee. In 1841 the church requested the ordination of Enoch Prescott and Hugh Beede. The Yearly and Quar- terly meetings were frequently held here. August, 1842, Joseph S. Moulton was chosen clerk. At the close of Mr Webber's pastorate the membership was 201, 182 being added to the church by baptism during his stay; but in 1848, at the end of Mr Brooks's pastorate, there were but 185 members, Millerism " having made sad havoc" in this section.

This church early took a strong stand for temperance, voting as early as 1842 disapproval of the use of liquors as a beverage, and in January, 1844, "to dispense with the wine for communion, and to use the juice of raisins instead." In 1847 the meeting-house was remodeled. In 1848 Caleb M. Marston was chosen deacon, and in 1849 J. G. Moulton was chosen deacon. In 1851 the present parsonage was built. July 14, 1852, Benjamin Burleigh Smith was ordained as a minister and missionary to India. Rev. Levi Brackett was here for a short period, 1854 to 1856. In 1858, Rev. Mr Tasker, pastor, " there were twenty-four additions by baptism, the greatest number for fifteen years." In 1859 Tristram Sanborn and Asa Severance were made deacons. Albert R. Kimball succeeded Sanborn in 1860.

G. W. Downing was a faithful superintendent of the Sabbath-school for years. John S. Quimby was a leader in the church, a man of great influence and permanence of character. Augustus Blanchard was a valuable member,

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unostentatious, a pillar of the church. In 1859 Eli B. Fernald commenced a pastorate of most salutary influence. " He brought to his work consecration and deep piety." January 8, 1862, John A. Marston was chosen clerk to succeed Phineas Bacon, who had served for more than fourteen years. In 1863 the membership was 220; of the Sabbath-school, 173. 1864, John M. True succeeded John A. Marston as clerk. Oliver H. Marston was clerk in 18€5. Rev. G. W. Bean was a man of push, perseverance, and energy. In May, 1868, George N. Dorr became clerk. Rev. Mr Kimball was here in 1870. He was active in temperance work. During his two years' stay the membership for each year was 100. N. F. Hoag was chosen clerk in 1870; he was followed by Ira Marston in 1872. John A. Marston succeeded him in 1874. In 1873 the Yearly Meeting was held with this church, being the third time since the division. At this meeting the "Woman's Mission Society " was formed; this has been a valuable auxiliary. Rev. Mr Calley's pastorate of six years was quiet and uneventful. No special records were made. Rev. Mr Griffin's minis- terial labors did not increase the church membership, while death reduced the number eleven. During the first year of Rev. Mr Scribner's ministrations, the congregation averaged 102, the Sabbath-school attendance increased, and the second year there was a marked growth in every direction. Quite a number were received by baptism these two years. About this time the church build- ing was repaired. "This was chiefly due to Mrs Oliver Chase, for without her generous gift and untiring labor the improvement might have failed."1 A religious and temperance revival took place in January, 1883. In August of the same year, twenty were added to the church. Mr Scribner was fond of historical research and his histories of the Freewill Baptist churches of the Sandwich Quarterly Meeting show great labor and accuracy. Through his kindness we are enabled to give this résumé.

Dudley Pettingill was born in Sandwich in 1817. After his service here, he was the itinerant preacher for the Sandwich Quarterly Meeting for some time, keeping his home in the town, however, until 1840; was elected twice to the state legislature, doing much pastoral work in these years. He died in Thornton, April 28, 1850. A good servant of the Lord.

Hosea Quimby, a native of Sandwich, was the first college graduate of the Freewill Baptist clergy, was the father of the educational interests of that church, teaching and preaching for many years, and holding many important offices. He died at Milton Mills, October 11, 1878, aged seventy-four. Daniel Quimby, who resided in Sandwich from 1781 to 1816, was an industrious and successful minister, and assisted John Colby greatly in his labors.

Hugh Beede held a high rank as a preacher. Mr Scribner says : " His sermons were clear, logical, and convincing; his native ability was great." IIe died in Sandwich, his native town, January 27, 1879, aged seventy-two.

Samuel Beede, another eminent Freewill Baptist, at one time editor of the Morning Star, came to Sandwich, a lad of seventeen, in 1816, and died March 27, 1834. In this short life he accomplished much. His ministerial work was done in three brief years, yet he won a high place in the councils of the church.

Rev. Levi B. Tasker was born in Strafford, March 21, 1814. In 1834, when Strafford Academy opened, he was

1 Oliver Chase was a man prominent in church and mission work. Possessed of means, the results of his industry and economy, he devoted much of this to the canse of religion. In this he was heartily seconded by his good wife. He gave a large amount to missionary canses, probably the most ever given by a citizen of Sandwich to the same objects.

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one of its first students, defraying his expenses with money saved from hard labor. IIe continued his studies four years. In 1837 he was baptized and united with the church in Northwood, and soon became clerk of the church and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. When the anti-slavery question was prominent in the minds of the people, he took a decided stand, and maintained his views in the face of bitter persecutions. In 1845 he received license to preach and soon after was ordained. IIe settled in Sandwich in 1848, and thirteen of the twenty-six years of his ministerial life was passed here. While pastor at Lyndon, Vt, he did efficient service as an organizer and educator, and to him is the establishment of the Lyndon Institution largely due. He was a worker, not a loiterer, in the Lord's vineyard. He was clerk of the Sandwich Quarterly Meeting, of the New Hampshire Yearly Meeting, and of the Home Mission Society for many years; a member of the Executive Board of Home Missions for twenty years, and clerk for several years; a member of the Executive Board of the Education Society, and one of the corporators of the printing establishment. His clear head, good judg- ment, and kind heart fitted him specially for these places. ITis care of the flock entrusted to him was faithful, and " he was without doubt the ablest preacher this church has ever had." He died August 29, 1875.

The North Sandwich Freewill Baptist Church is the original first church of that denomination in town. After the division in 1839, Rev. Dudley Pettingill ministered to this church until 1840 ; Rev. Hugh Beede and J. Prescott, 1840-41; William Johnson, 1841-42; Rev. B. H. McMurphy, 1842-45; Rev. C. E. Blake, 1845-47; Rev. Josiah Wetherbee, 1847-50; Rev. Thomas Kenis- ton, 1850-53; Rev. John L. Sinclair, 1853-58; Rev. Samuel Wiggin, 1858-59; Rev. William Rogers, 1859-62; Rev. Hugh Beede, 1862-66; Rev. Jonathan Woodman, 1866-72; Rev. David Calley, 1872-74; Rev. J. S. Potter, 1874-76; Rev. John L. Sinclair, 1876-80; Rev. C. W. Dealtry, 1880-82; Rev. David Calley, 1882-87 ; Rev. J. Langdon Quimby, April, 1887, to October, 1887 ; Rev. A. J. Dutton is the present (1889) pastor. Church membership, 87. The Sabbath-school has 82 scholars. Benjamin F. Fellows is clerk of the church.

During Rev. Mr Sinclair's pastorate the church was remodeled; new pews were put in, making the seating capacity 250, and other repairs made at a cost of several hundred dollars. A parsonage was built about 1864 or 1865, costing $1,200. "This church building once had a belfry, octagonal in form, with eight perpendicular columns framed with timbers beneath the roof, and extending upwards supporting a large dome, from which ran up a spire, and at its apex was inserted an iron bar or rod and that was surmounted by a large weather- vane." About 1826 this section was visited by a hurricane that twisted off the iron bar close down to the spire, hurling it to the ground. The belfry remained in this unsightly condition until 1842, when S. N. Fogg was employed to remove it. The church was built on the southeast corner of the farm once owned by Abraham Perkins.

Methodism came to Sandwich early in the century from Landaff and Bridgewater circuits on the west, and Tuftonborough on the southeast. In 1803 Solomon Langdon, Paul Dustin, and Thomas Branch were on the large Landaff circuit, and Rev. Mr Langdon has the credit of being the pioneer Methodist preacher in this town. He labored mightily in word and doctrine to lay the foundation of this faith. Mrs Winslow, it is said, was the first member of this church, and Jedediah Skinner the second. Lewis Bates and Paul Dustin were on Bridgewater circuit in 1804-05, and " Elder" Dustin

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

baptized, in 1805, in Sandwich, Gilman Smith, Anna Smith, Fanny Glines, and others. Not far from this time the first class was formed, with Jedediah Skinner, leader, Elijah Skinner, Bradbury Prescott, Mrs Beede, and two others as members. "Father" Skinner was the first to open his house to Methodist preaching, and about the same time Mrs Beede, who lived where Asahel Glines now lives, opened her doors for public services, and for a long period it was Methodist headquarters. The first class-meeting was probably held at Gilman Smith's in 1805. Elijah Hedding, afterwards bishop, was presiding elder in 1807-08, Martin Ruter in 1809-10.

Methodist meetings were held in the Red Hill district and in the south- eastern parts of the town simultaneously and independently of each other. The Red Hill meetings were connected with Centre Harbor, and the others with Tuftonborough, and their preachers doubtless conducted the services. Those stationed at Centre Harbor were Hezekiah Field, 1806, Paul Dustin, 1807, J. Peck, 1808, Abner Clark, 1809. At Tuftonborough were L. Bates, 1806, J. Peek, E. Blake, 1807, L. Bates, 1808, Benjamin Bishop, Amasa Taylor, 1809.

In 1810 Sandwich became a station, which included Centre Sandwich, North Sandwich, and South Tamworth, with the Centre as base of operations, and here, after meetings ceased to be held at private houses, the Methodists worshiped in the " old meeting house " one half of the time for several years, alternately with the Baptists until 1825, when, being stronger in numbers, and deeming it pleasanter to have a house of their own, they commenced a church in April, which they finished the same year. The celebrated John N. Maffit preached the dedication sermon. This church was built through the zealous efforts and personal labor of Elijah Skinner, a prominent leader in the society.

It was the custom to send two preachers to the Sandwich circuit, one married and one unmarried ; and they had religious services every Sabbath at Centre Sandwich, and once in two weeks at North Sandwich and South Tamworth.

The Methodists and Congregationalists built a church edifice of brick at North Sandwich, and the clergymen of the different denominations occupied the pulpit alternate Sabbaths. Stephen Fellows was one of the leading members of this Methodist church. After his removal from the state, and other changes made by time, there were but few Methodists remaining in that section.

The first church erected by the Methodists was occupied by them for nearly a quarter of a century, when a fire made such devastation within its walls that it was decided to rebuild. This was done in 1848. The land on which the present church stands was given by Hon. Moulton H. Marston.

The second session of the New Hampshire Conference was held at Centre Sandwich in 1831, Bishop Soule presiding. The tenth annual session was also

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held here in 1839, Bishop Hedding presiding. At a Quarterly Conference held at Sandwich, June 27, 1839, it was "Voted, that said Sandwich Circuit be divided in the following manner : Centre Sandwich to be a station -also that North Sandwich and Tamworth be a circuit, that Holderness and Centre Harbor be another circuit."

The following list of Methodist preachers stationed on Sandwich Circuit was compiled by C. C. Fellows : -

1810, Leonard Frost. 1811, Francis Dane. 1812, Hezekiah Field. 1813, John Vickory. 1814, Hezekiah Davis. 1815, Leonard Frost. 1816, Josiah Scarritt. 1817, Unknown. 1818, Benjamin Bishop. 1819, Nathan Paine. 1820, Ezra Kellogg. 1821, J. Kellam, E. S. Goodwin. 1822, William McCoy. 1823, Charles Baker. 1824, J. B. H. Norris. 1825, J. B. H. Norris, Nathaniel

Norris. 1826, Samuel Kelly, George Storrs. 1827, George Storrs, J. Hazleton. 1828, A. B. Kindsman, L. Harlow. 1829, J. B. H. Norris, S. Fisk. 1830, Will- iam Nelson, John Worcester. 1831, S. Chamberlain, William Peck. 1832, S. Chamberlain, C. Fales. 1833, M. Newhall, O. Dunbar. 1834, M. Newhall, L. D. Blodgett. 1835, N. W. Scott, L. D. Blodgett. 1836, N. W. Scott. 1837, John Smith, M. P. Marshall. 1838, John Smith, John English. 1839, David Wilcox. 1840, H. Drew, M. P. Marshall. 1841, H. Drew, J. S. Loveland. 1842, C. W. Levings, J. S. Loveland, William Blake. 1843, C. W. Levings, H. H. Hartwell. 1844, J. A. Scarritt, H. Hill. 1845-46, N. W. Aspinwall. 1847-48, William Hewes. 1849-50, Calvin Holman. 1851, Rufus Tilton. 1852-53, H. N. Taplin. 1854-55, Joseph W. Guernsey. 1856-57, Joshua H. Holman. 1858, Nelson Green. 1859-60, J. P. Stinchfield. 1861-62,

Reuben Dearborn. 1863-64, John Currier. 1865, A. J. Church. 1866, A. P. Hatch. 1867-69, M. T. Cilley. 1870, C. A. Cressey. 1871-73, George N. Bryant. 1874-75, Moses Sherman. 1876-77, D. W. Downs. 1878, J. Mowry Bean. 1879-81, William Woods. 1882, J. D. Folsom. 1883-85, G. C. Noyes. 1886-87, J. H. Brown. 1888, William A. Mayo. Rev. George N. Dorr, born in Sandwich, graduate of Bowdoin College, is a Methodist clergyman and stationed at Lebanon this year (1888). The membership of the church in 1888 was ninety; the Sabbath-school had an average of sixty pupils, Dr E. W. Hodsdon, superintendent. The society has a good house of worship, valued at four thousand dollars, a pleasant parsonage, and is in a prosperous condition.

The Congregational Churches. - Until 1814 there was no organization of the Congregationalists in Sandwich; people of that faith worshiped at Tamworth or Moultonborough, where churches of that denomination were established and the gospel preached. Occasionally the Rev. Mr. Hidden, of Tamworth, and Mr Crane, of Exeter, preached gratuitously.

The report of a committee of the church gives the succint history to 1827. "In 1811 Mr Clark, a missionary from the New Hampshire Missionary Society,

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sent to Ossipee, preached one Sabbath and once or twice on weekdays to this people. In 1814 the Rev. Mr Taylor was sent to us three months from the New Hampshire Missionary Society, and the same year Mr. William Cogswell, a licentiate, was sent to us three months by the Massachusetts Society, whose labors were blest; a church consisting of thirteen members was organized and a further revival followed."

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 82

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124